Adding Casters to a Mesa 412

[Phil Adams]

I recently purchased a Mesa 412 bottom that I really like. As with many fridge-type cabs it comes with small wheels in the back for tilt and roll transporting. I find this tilt and roll cumbersome. It is difficult to move the cab backward as towards a wall and is especially unwieldy with my SVT-cl head on top.

While tilt and roll may have advantages for some situations, it seems that strong casters would be better. This seems especially the case with my band as we transport gear in a Haulmark trailer with a ramp. Installing casters will render the tilt and roll useless (unless the Track-Loc casters are removed). Does anyone have some experience with this. Any good reason not to install Tracl-loc casters? Thanks- Phil

[georgestrings]

I've been gigging their PH610 for several years now, and their PH810 for a few months - which is pretty much the same size as your 412... I personally wouldn't change the casters because I think a cab that tall would be very tippy with 4 casters on the bottom...

Regarding moving it back towards a wall - I don't find that to be difficult at all, if you just push from the top front, it'll slide backwards on it's wheels with no trouble at all - even with an amp on it... I frequently reposition mine after my rack is on top of it, and it's really no big deal - the rack holds an M-pulse 600, XDR-95 receiver, DTR-2000 tuner, a surge strip, and an instrument cable - so it's go a bit of weight to it, too...

The trick is to lean into the top front of the cab enough to engage the wheels, and kinda slide it on the front feet - it isn't hard at all...



- georgestrings

[Phil Adams]

Thanks, I'll try that technique. I never thought about the tipping potential.

[georgestrings]

Originally Posted by Phil Adams

Thanks, I'll try that technique. I never thought about the tipping potential.

Yeah, those cabs are pretty tall, and I'd bet that tipping over would be a real concern - especially going up or down a ramp... When you try the slide back technique, just be careful not to tilt back too much, and you'll be just fine - you just kinda push back at the top of the cab 'til you feel it start to slide backwards - it's not hard at all, and works pretty well, actually...

I'd imagine that the PH412 and a real SVT head has to be an awesome rig - I'm sure you're loving the performance of it...


- georgestrings

[rockstarbassist]

Yeah I was kinda wary at first, but then I got it and was glad they didn't include the 4" casters like on the old Diesel stuff. It'd just tip over. I got used to the tilt-back pretty quickly when I had my PH412.

I have the 3" models on my PH212's, which work pretty well.

[MikeyThrottler]

I much prefer fridge-style tilt-back casters on any big cab. Easier to slide them up on stage, more stable, and I think having full contact with the stage floor is a good thing for perceived tone IMO.

I have the same rig as you, except my SVT is a '76, and I would never want to try and move the cab with the head on top. I don't even want to think about what would happen if it fell....

I did used to own a Peavey 412 that was 2x2 configuration with four floor casters, and even then I rarely would move it with the head on top. Too much vibration transmitted to the head, and not fun to try to control on top of a 150lb cab on an incline in an alley...

It's worth the extra trip to carry the head separate.

[georgestrings]

I *think* the OP was talking about minor position adjustments on stage, not using the cab as a dolly for his amp...


- georgestrings